Written By David D'Angelo on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 | 8/19/2009

Scourging for more information on Lou Prichett's YOU SCARE ME Open Letter to President Barack Obama we come across a real counter challenge. The poster reacting on the website Soda Head posted a detail by detail account on the tainted legacy of Lou Prichett and his company Procter and Gamble, from animal rights abuse t support of notorious regimes. Do we really want to believe in a person that had been the true unyielding and anti-human capitalist? It is up to you. Anyway here is the post...

This is what Mr. Prickheads legacy is:

Procter & Gamble are subject to boycott from a number of animal rights groups for the large amounts of animals they use in testing their products - estimated at about 50,000 per year.

Like most of big companies, Procter & Gamble have registered some domain names for use on the internet. However, they haven't just registered one or two - they have registered dozens and dozens.

Procter & Gamble is part of the pharmaceutical industry.

It is not only the specific practices of individual companies that cause problems. The attitudes created by the currrent system of exploitation gives power and profits to the few, at the expense of people, animals and the environment. It is important to expose the unethical practices of specific companies as their behaviour is often indicative of the entire system.

Oppresive Regimes

Supporting brutal / repressive regimes

During the apartheid years, Procter & Gamble had a licensing agreement in South Africa. Procter & Gamble also operates in the following regimes; Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines and Turkey.

[The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association.]

Environment

At the end of 1991 the company was criticised for continuing to pollute the Fenholloway River with up to 50 million gallons of waste water each day from its cellulose plant in Florida. Fish in the river were being contaminated with dioxin, and water wells in the vicinity was allegedly unsafe to drink. Amazingly, all this pollution was within legal limits but state officials are said to be reviewing P&G;'s permit at the plant.

[The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association.]
Animal Suffering

Abusing animals

In July 1991, BUAV revealed that Proctor & Gamble had conducted tests on about 300 guinea pigs to determine irritancy and allergic sensitivity to sunscreen ingredients. Human data was already available. In 1992, using US government records, 'In Defence of Animals' reported that Proctor & Gamble had increased its use of dogs, hamsters and ferrets between 1986 and 1989. Total animal use is estimated at about 50,000 per year. Proctor & Gamble is subject to boycott calls from a number of animal rights groups, including PeTA, 'In Defence of Animals'.

[The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association.]
Credits and References: Most of the information in this section was taken from The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association.

Opposition and Campaigns

Exploitation and profiteering do not need to exist. A better way of running our lives can be created based on the sharing of resources and on respect for each other and for nature. Increasingly people are questioning and challenging those with power and are seeking alternatives. Let's hope it's possible to make a difference.